Trapped with a Lawyer novel Chapter 77

"Someone has reported you for assault. The other party is pressing charges and will not accept private mediation." Before she could begin to protest, Ella was forced into the back of the police car.

Twenty minutes later, Ella's belongings were likewise confiscated. Afterwards she was placed in a small, oddly TV-set-like, jail cell. A small room with iron bars.

As Ella was pushed into the jail cell she noticed another woman, sitting on the floor squinting at the intrusion.

Ella quickly surveyed the cell, her mind blank.

Trying to keep herself calm, Ella squatted down in a corner of the room and placed her arms around her knees.

30 minutes later, a serious-looking policewoman opened the cell door and asked Ella to come out to, "record your confession."

The policemen shuffled around the station busily, caught up in various matters. Several people, clearly injured through extortion, stood lifelessly around.

The two women, sat face to face.

"Ella." This serious, though undeniably beautiful policewoman said her name in a grave tone.

Hum?"

"Last night, do you admit that that in the alley adjacent to 'the Dominator' on Shengli Road, you assaulted Miss Catherine and propositioned a man to rape her?"

"I admit to the first part, but deny the second." Ella's voice flat and unemotional. She was good at hiding her feelings from others.

The policewoman looked her over curiously, and said in an even more serious tone, "We show leniency to those who confess, and severity to those who refuse."

"I refuse to admit to something I didn't do." Ella was a firm believer in the value of chastity, she would never take part in the latter accusation. Although she hated Catherine, beating her was enough.

"Stop lying, only honesty can save you now." The policewoman, though young, was experienced. She had been through 'the run-around' many times. She set down her pen and looked at Ella, who had wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

Ella leaned forward and looked at the policewoman with a similar, solemn expression. "I'll say it again. I admit to the first crime, but not to the second."

After about half an hour, the policewoman grabbed her recording device and notebook and stood up. "Wait for the law-suit proceedings then.." With that, the policewoman stood up and left the room. "Take her back to her cell."

Again imprisoned, Ella asked the guard, "How long will you keep me locked up?" "I have recorded the confession!" She asked the question with a weakening voice. She hated the cold, damp cell and wanted to go home.

The guard frowned before answering, "It all depends on whether she presses charges or settles privately."

"Catherine, Catherine, Catherine......" Ella repeated this name in her mind over and over again.

The first person to notice Ella was gone was Melody. She had been concerned when Ella hadn't returned the old house for several days.

Melody had left countless messages on her phone, but Ella had kept it turned off the entire time. In the evening, when she still couldn't get ahold of Ella, she had called to the Villa and asked both Joy and Liu if they had seen her.

Melody had also tried Samuel's phone, which was likewise kept off for the entire day. Upon further investigation, Anna had told Melody that Samuel hadn't come to work that day.

'What is wrong with these two kids?'

At 10 p.m., with no other choice, Melody had called Eason. She had immediately asked him whether he had seen Ella.

Eason having just arrived in France, had just finished handling the matter of his deceased parents' belonging.

He was weary from travel and jet lag when he answered the phone.

"Hi, grandma." Eason's voices crackled a bit due to his sleepless night.

"Samuel and Ella are missing. Do you know where they might be?" Becoming more and more worried about the two, Melody skipped all pleasantries and asked Eason abruptly.

Sensing the urgency in her voice, Eason become confused. Samuel and Ella were missing? He was talking to his sister yesterday when he boarded the plane.

"Grandma, calm down. I will call around and find them."

"OK, call me back later." Melody hung up the phone and looked at baby Jerry, sleeping peacefully beside her. She said a quick prayer for the safety of the boy's parents.